Obituaries

Member Obituaries(click on a name to expand/contract the obituary.)

Christopher Whitehead, US Army, Ret. (Apr 11, 1938 - Dec 12, 2016)

Chris attended Central High School in Columbus, Ohio and joined the Air Force and later joined the Army where he proudly served his country with two tours in Viet Nam. He also served in Germany, Korea, Saudi Arabia and many bases around continental United States. Chris was a Quartermaster and was awarded many medals and commendations. He retired in November 1981. He then worked for the United States Postal Service for 18 years.

Chris coached Men's, Women's and Children's basketball teams in the military, St. Joseph's Catholic School in Newton Falls, Warren Christian, KSU Trumbull Campus, St. Mary's Middle School, LaBrae High School and Warren City Schools. Chris was active with his son's Boy Scout Troop #101, where he taught Rifle Marksmanship and assisted with camping trips.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Edwina Bell Whitehead, three daughters and one son, seven grandchildren and many great granchildren and great-great grandchildren.

A memorial service took placed on December 17 at First Baptist Church in Braceville where Chris was a member and served as trustee and sang in the Male Chorus.

He joined MSVC in September 2012 and served as the chapter's personal affairs chairperson.

William Thomas Beatty, Sr. (Sept 27, 1934 - Apr 27, 2014)

VOLANT, FL. William Thomas Beatty Sr., 79, of Volant and Clearwater, Fla., and formerly of Slippery Rock, passed away Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Clearwater. He was born Sept. 27, 1934, in Slippery Rock, to Frank Sedwick Beatty and Margaret Iona Steele Beatty. He married Audrey Price Beatty on July 11, 2003. She survives at the residence. He was previously married to Katherine Gates Beatty on Aug. 15, 1959. She preceded him in death on Oct. 24, 2001. He graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1952 and Slippery Rock State Teachers College in 1956, and went on to earn two masters degrees. He went to the military after college and retired as a full colonel of the Army Reserve. He was a high school administrator and started the football program at Slippery Rock High School. He was the school's first coach. He organized the first midget football program. He was an outstanding basketball player in his youth and was inducted into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame, the Slippery Rock University Sports Hall of Fame and the Slippery Rock High School Sports Hall of Fame. He was a member of Slippery Rock United Methodist Church. He was a member and past master of Grove City F&AM Lodge 603, and was a member of Order of Eastern Star 110. He was a member of the Slippery Rock Good Fellows and Ridgeway Elks.

Survivors include his wife, Audrey, of Volant; a daughter, Barbara K. Pink of Slippery Rock; three sons, William T. Beatty Jr. and his wife, Peggy, of Grove City, Steve E. Beatty of Slippery Rock and Joseph A. Beatty and his wife, Sara, of Slippery Rock; a stepson, Donald R. Smith of Volant; two stepdaughters, Rae Lynn Smith of New Wilmington and Lea Ann Kuth of Harmony; a sister, I. Claire Barron and her husband, John, of Slippery Rock; 10 grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; a great-grandson; and six stepgreat-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife; and a son-in-law, Gary Pink.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 3, and from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at the Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock. A Masonic service will be observed Saturday evening. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with the Rev. Keith McIlwain, pastor of the Slippery Rock United Methodist Church, presiding. Military honors will be observed following the service Sunday at Slippery Rock Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Kidney Association.

John Koshan shared this on Bill's military career:

Bill was commissioned via the Pennsylvania National Guard OCS program. Can't tell you how many conversations we had about this and how many friends he had in the guard. I met him when we were both Captains in the 475th QM Group in Farrell. Bill was a logistics officer. He became the S4 for the Group and eventually the Group Commander. He also was a Battalion commander, commanding the 402nd QM Operating Bn in Farrell, Pa. Bill was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff (DSLOG) for Logistics for the 99th Reserve Command in Pittsburgh,PA and then was appointed commander of the 443rd Depot, another unit of the 99th Reserve Command. He served in this capacity until he retired.

John was a life member of MOAA and joined the MSVC Chapter two years ago.

Donald J. Oglesby (Mar 4, 1940 - Mar 3, 2014)

HUBBARD OH. Donald J. Oglesby crossed the bar to be with his Lord on March 3, 2014. Don was born March 4, 1940 in Aberdeen, Wash., to the late John C and R Geraldine (Smith) Oglesby. He attended Morgan Jr High School in Ellensburg, Wash., North Central High School in Spokane, Wash., and received his BS degree from the University of the State of New York in 1982. Don enlisted in the US Navy in 1957, serving on destroyers home ported in Norfolk, Va., and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and at Fleet Sonar School, Key West, Fla. He received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer in 1969 and returned to Spokane. In 1971 he enlisted in the US Coast Guard and served at Fleet Training Group, Pearl Harbor. He retired from the Coast Guard in 1982. After retiring, he relocated to LaCrosse, Wis. and served for 15 years as a Motor Carrier Inspector for the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Don was an active member in the Military Officers Association of America; he was a member and past president of the La Crosse Chapter, member of the Ohio Western Reserve Chapter and a charter member and Secretary/Treasurer of the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys Chapter. He was also a member of Austintown American Legion Post 301, Wisconsin State Patrol Alumni Association, Coast Guard Warrant and Chief Warrant Officers Association, and Ohio Buckeye Coasties Group. He was a member of Grace Fellowship Church, Warren, Ohio and a volunteer reader for Reading Radio Service of Youngstown. Don was an avid fan of NASCAR and enjoyed fishing and cooking. He was involved in tracing his family roots in genealogical research.

He is survived by his wife Janet Robison Oglesby whom he married May 28, 2000, his four sons and one daughter, a stepson and stepdaughter, eighteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his late wife Barbara Johnson Oglesby of LaCrosse.

Services will be held at the Smith's Funeral Home, 3126 Main St., West Middlesex, Thursday at 11:00 am with Rev. Robert McFarland of Chestnut Ridge Church of God officiating. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Austintown American Legion Post 301, 3652 Oakwood Ave. Austintown, OH 44515 or MSVC-MOAA c/o Walt Duzzny, Treasurer 66 Parkgate Ave. Youngstown, OH 44515.